bear witness

i forget
how
to do
this.

the weight of indignation
heavy like a [where do similes go?]
easy cliches
like the news
and other garbage they try
to sell us.

scrolling, sloth, sins
lost in thought
about what
must be inherited and not attained;
culture, power, justice
being born
here not there
white not black
male not female

inheritances are never taxed,
wealth weaponised
by drunken children
wielding privilege and victimhood

fires. volcanos. war.
protests. impeachment. elections.
winners. losers. snubs.

everyday the same.
everyday different.

whilst running in the park
I witnessed:

a pigeon flapping its wings
transporting a twig into a tree

a father and daughter
flying a kite
within reach,
but far away enough
to threaten space

a newly married couple
draped in an entourage
laughing
sand between their bare feet.

everyday the same.
everyday different.

the world will bury us
the only levity
found by bearing witness

the only thing we need to teach
the children is how to
catch a breath beneath another shovel load.